CRICKET: WI selectors standing by decision to drop Bravo, Pollard for World Cup

The chairman of selectors for the West Indies Cricket Board, Clive Lloyd, has reacted to critics over the omission of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo from the World Cup squad.

The WICB last week announced a 15-man squad for the Cricket World Cup that did not include the senior players, triggering criticisms that they are being victimised.

In an interview on Digicel Sportsmax this afternoon, the former West Indies captain said the decision to cut Bravo and Pollard was tough but necessary.

"We had two days of discussions. There were very, very strong arguments for players and we came up with what we thought would be a pretty good team. It’s not a situation where these guys (Bravo and Pollard) are being wiped away. They have a chance of playing again for the West Indies, no doubt about that," said LLoyd.

According to Lloyd says fresh efforts have to be made to help push the West Indies team from the bottom of world cricket.

He said over the past eight years, the WICB has been recycling players only to reap the same disappointing results.

"The point is that we [are] try[ing] to see if we can change things. It’s quite obvious that picking a West Indies team is not easy. It’s a very difficult job because if you look at the stats that our players have, they’re not really wonderful," he said.

Lloyd also says newer players who have been performing well in the regional competition need to be given a chance.

Bravo was the One-Day captain who led the West Indies team to abandon a series last year with India.

He was later sacked and is now without a place on the team he once led.

Yesterday, batting star, Chris Gayle, said he was saddened by the decision to omit Bravo and Pollard from the World Cup squad.